2nd Trimester
plus size w/ trouble seeing baby in ultrasound
I am absolutley devastated and needed to share. I have gone for 2 ultrasounds, at 18 and then 20 weeks for fetal survey. The ultrasound tech told me she was unable to see everything to get good measurements. I am 5'7 and weigh about 285lb. I was concerned and called the doctor and she told me it was because of maternal size! I hung up the phone and started to cry. As far as I know nothing is wrong with the baby, but because I am carrying extra weight they can't see what they need to see. I don't know how to make myself feel better, its like I'm a failure already at being a parent because I can't even take care of myself.......I guess I need a little advice and reassurance. Wow, I sound pathetic!!
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Re: plus size w/ trouble seeing baby in ultrasound
F******************ck THEM! Seriously. Women WAY larger than you have healthy babies and awesome pregnancies. Being heavy does NOT equal unhealthy. And get a new doctor. )#&*$E(#$&(*#$W)*(*@#)@*!! Sorry, I'm so offended for you. It's ok sweetie, I'm sure all is fine.
I am so sorry you had to hear that! However I am 5'8 300lbs and never had a problem, so maybe they have a bad machine. They always find the hb and baby right away. Hope you feel better!
Chillax! Seriously, she said the doctor said that it was because of "maternal size"... that is NOT offensive. Holy crap, calm down.
Malakai - 8.3.09
Ezra - 12.1.11 ASD
I can understand your disappointment, it's not pathetic. You are not a failure in the least. Failure would be to take this situation and let it stop you from doing what you need to do to make sure you are healthy and there for your baby from now on.
Whether you have a condition that makes it harder for you to maintain a more healthy weight or not, please know that you are not alone and you don't have to do this alone.
Edit: Physicians are often blunt because often patients don't listen to subtle hints. When something bad results of their tip toe-ing around the subject the physician gets blamed (and can be liable) because "They never told me that!!"
In this case, I would rather know that they can pin point the cause of the issue than be worried that there is something else going on to cause it that they can't find.
I am so sorry you feel this way, you are NOT failing as a mother. You love your child and are getting the prenatal care. That makes you a wondeful mother. Maybe they just have a bad machine. I would however, maybe get another OB and ask what they think.....
Good luck
The doctor didn't say the baby was unhealthy because of her weight, just that they couldn't see things properly on the ultrasound.
OP, Don't feel like a failure--you're not! I'm sure everything is healthy and fine. Since others on here know of women who are plus size and have successful ultrasounds, I'd mention that to the doctor and see if he/she has recommendations for places with better machines, or I'd pay to go to one of those independent places where you can do them for like, $200 a pop.
Good luck to you! Remember, most women in the world do not have ultrasounds. You have prenatal care, etc. so you're already ahead of many and I'm sure things are fine.
DD #1 born 4/1/2012
My Married Bio
Yes, I was going to say, I know women who are bigger than that and had no problem seeing the baby at an u/s. I agree, maybe they need a new machine!!
It's a GIRL!
I agree with PP's that it's probably just crappy equipment. I am a bigger girl (5'10" and 235 pre-pregnancy) and have perfect, crystal clear images from my ultrasounds.
You are not a failure, there is NOTHING out there that says plus size women can't have perfectly normal and healthy pregnancies and babies. Keep your head up, and talk to your doctor (or maybe go to another practice) about getting access to a better machine to make certain your precious LO is growing normally. You deserve to have peace of mind just like anyone else.
I am 5'5" and weighed 150 lbs at my first appointment. The tech couldn't find the heartbeat and said that's because it might be due to the layer of fat I have!
This made me feel completely awful. The bottom line is, it's hard not knowing all the time how the baby is doing.
We are very close in weight but I'm only 5'2! I'm also high risk and have had 7 u/s so far, including my a/s just last wk and the techs have ALWAYS been able to see my baby since I was 5wks along. At my last u/s, the tech said that she couldn't really couldn't chart LO's entire heart and my MFS came in and repeated that part of the a/s and he couldn't quite see everything either. He said that my LO just wasn't in the best position and I asked him point blank if my weight had anything to do w/it and he said not really since there hasn't been an issue before. I will say that b/c of my size, the techs explained that they may have to press down a bit more than usual to get a good scan, but I never found it too uncomfortable. In your situation, I'm willing to bet that they either had a crappy/old machine or that your tech wasn't patient or experienced enough to scan you correctly. Frankly, I think your dr was very insensitive and honestly, you should look for another dr asap! As a plus size MTB, you already have enough insecurities and fears, so you really need to find a dr who not only understands that, but is sensitive to those issues as well. You are already a great mom b/c you are taking care of your LO by going to the dr, so pls don't doubt yourself. You are so not alone in this! Trust me, if you make it a point, you will find a better dr.
I am joining the other girls in saying they have a crappy u/s machine.
I too am plus size and carry a lot of my weight in my belly. I've had 4 u/s -two transvag and 2 external- and they never had any problems seeing anything (unless LO wasn't cooperating).
If I were you I'd do two things. 1) Check out an outside u/s place that will probably have a better machine. 2) Use these unfortunate comments from you u/s tech and doctor to motivate yourself to be a bit healthier now and after your baby comes.
well said.
I am 5'7 and weigh 208. My first ultrasound was fine at 10 weeks. I go back for a/s and asked my doctor what week that would be and she said, "because of your size you should wait until 22 weeks just to make sure they can see everything fine."
I honestly did not take any offence to this. I know that I am larger than average at size 14 and there is no one to blame but me for this. I find it to be a mild inconvenience that I have to wait an extra two weeks longer than normal size patients but I am not too concerned about it.
Try not to be too upset about it. I know it's hard. I could be that they just had a crappy machine.
That's awful, and NOT true. I'm a bit shorter and weigh less, but proportionately your size. Ive had mutiple u/s and not once had a problem seeing or measuring the baby.
Your dr is an ass.
Happy Easter
My Blog
"The doctor didn't say the baby was unhealthy because of her weight, just that they couldn't see things properly on the ultrasound.
OP, Don't feel like a failure--you're not! I'm sure everything is healthy and fine. Since others on here know of women who are plus size and have successful ultrasounds, I'd mention that to the doctor and see if he/she has recommendations for places with better machines, or I'd pay to go to one of those independent places where you can do them for like, $200 a pop.
Good luck to you! Remember, most women in the world do not have ultrasounds. You have prenatal care, etc. so you're already ahead of many and I'm sure things are fine."
Or a HORRIBLE tech doing the ultrasound! Probably both. I've never heard of anyone having a hard time with an ultrasound because of size.
This (except I don't do ultrasounds LOL)
I am 5'2 and currently 215 but with my daughter I was 10lbs smaller and my drs. office has trouble. I was really upset and then realized i was being stupid, I was larger and I knew it. They just sent me for a level 2 at MFM and they could see everything fine.
Weight is a sensitive subject (I refused to be weighed at the endocrinologist yesterday because i already get weighed every 4 weeks LOL) but reality is reality and if you JUST realized you are a bit on the big side and didn't know ahead of time that this could cause some minor (and major) issues during pregnancy then you need a reality check.
Stop being pissed it isn't worth it and isn't going to help.
Agreed with all of this. Very well said.
It's scary that so many people think a DOCTOR who is being paid to monitor someone's health, can't mention weight to a patient. Makes me shudder.
My doc mentioned I was perhaps gaining weight too fast. Did it "hurt my feelings" a bit? Sure. But that doesn't make her a bad doctor!
The doctor didn't say anything wrong. If they couldn't see on their equipment because of maternal size, then that is the issue. Do they need new machines? Perhaps. But apparently they work on average sized women just fine.
Don't beat yourself up though. Eat healthy and do what you need to do so that you don't feel so badly. You're NOT a bad mom by any stretch!
People need to chill. Its not like the doctor said "Listen you fat a$$, this is the reason why we can't see your baby" --- that would be WRONG and a reason to find a new doctor.
The doctor said the reason in the most respectful way he could.
Malakai - 8.3.09
Ezra - 12.1.11 ASD
i agree with you. I am a critical care nurse and know a bit about medical stuff. My point was not to get another dr, I know she was being honest and appreciate that. i just felt horrible that I let myself get like this and now its not affecting just me, buy my baby as well. I don't agree that it is as bad a health issue at this point for me as diabetes or high blood pressure, which I have never had a problem with. I have decided that I am going to use this painful experience and make some changes in my life for my whole family. Thank you for your input and honesty!
Omg, that is just crazy. I weight not much less then you and have only had 2 ultrasounds at weeks 7 and 9. But both time they had a hard time seeing baby so they did a vaginal ultrasound and seen baby just fine. They should try that. And what the doctor told you well I think that is just plain out rude and wrong. But don't think you are going to be a bad mom or anything you will be great.
People have discussed this topic at length, and I think the consensus is that it wouldn't be such a great idea.